A wonderful practice with my teammates. I won both sets played with Bette and Lynn.
I watched a few pickleball serve videos on YouTube. Pickleball evolves quickly. Among many pointers, I see that full swing serve motion is IN or, it has been but I didn’t know.
Depth is more important than power when serving. A short serve, unless it’s a winner, it will bring your opponent in quicker …
I volley serve.
Our 2nd game of the MLP, defeating DD 2-1 Bracket B scores.
I watched a few pickleball videos on Youtube, and learnt that the serving hand should be lower than the paddle when serving: a new concept. So essentially, I served with my paddle vertical for the first time. Luckily, I’ve no double fault.
Round 1 of the A bracket is 2:1 and R2 4:2.
My B bracket is 2:1. I’ve the same teammate, to play mixed doubles and doubles:
My court’s loss was erased by two other courts’ win.
One of the rules is, at 24, you’ve to serve out to win the 25. We were leading 24 to 15 and lost the last 5 points. Ehrrrr … the player on the right hand side will be serving at 24, which was me – my bad. So think about it before taking sides with your partner.
Two partners have very different outlook for this MLP. The more experienced plays with strategy and shoulder more shots, which I happily to concede.
But the lesser experienced one won’t do. Like the last match, the opponents hit all the ball to my P. I could have returned many of them but the partner won’t let me. Perhaps the player felt slight or what? In a team, there is NO ‘I’. I want to win.
The second game, one of the two girls said to me, “Oh Irene, thank you for applauding my shots.” I was bit startled: gosh, where were they from? This is very common courtesy and I offer it freely to all, especially my opponents. Oh well.
My teammate reminded me that I need to stay out when my partner serves.
Two slams night: I played five hands winning 4, that includes an unbid grand slam.
The first slam is, a grand slam but we didn’t bid for – a pooper. We both have 17 hcp each:
♠️ A
♥️ K9872
♦️ AK62
♣️ K52
My P
♠️ K8
♥️ AQJ 10 3
♦️ Q10
♣️ A10 86
So, we’ve all four As and Kings. But we didn’t bid for it, for some reason, unfortunately, played at 4♥️.
The second slam, we’ve 32 hcp (me 15 and P 17): 3 As and 4 Kings.
We asked for As and Ks, ended up 6N and my partner made it – it was NOT an easy hand.
Note to myself: make sure to settle on the suit you’re playing before asking for As and Ks.
I initially bid for ♦️… If we stayed with ♦️, we could have another grand slam since we both have a singleton ♥️♠️.
It’s the first time I heard/learnt that the paddle should be held vertically, instead horizontal when dinking. I’ve taken Byron F’s private lesson but he didn’t correct me – said nothing. Oh well.
At the last match of pickleball, one of the teammates reminded me about my serve: might not be legal. So here are two recordings, in slow mo and regular motion.
After warming up, we played regular games.
Today’s sail is very pleasant: 8 of us, great company, with great weather. We left from Litter Harbor.
The Beer Can Island was ravaged by the storm, many tress are down and all the structures were wiped out, except the swing.
The three owners paused their plan to make it time share (?), like $1,000 per share.
Today, there are boats and one hot dog boat is around too.
We visit Sunken Island, sailed on Alafia River: a 25 miles (40 km) long river, with a watershed of 335 square miles (870 km2) that flows into Tampa Bay.
People fishing from the bridge 41/45 by The River’s Edge
wiki: … The watershed contains ten named lakes and ponds, and 29 named rivers, streams and canals. During the rainy season, excess water is pumped to the new C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir, which opened in 2005. The river is formed by two prongs. The north prong starts south of Mulberry and runs for 23.9 miles until it meets the south prong in Lithia. The south prong begins south of Bradley Junction and continues for 28.7 miles. The combined river then flows 24.7 miles west into Tampa Bay
We see dolphins; a few boats with Trump’s name on it; rainbows; pelicans,…
Lunch at the River’s Edge is fine.
A lonesome pelican at the dock
606 Seagrape Dr,
Ruskin, FL 33570
… more pix & videos on Google Maps & Yelp.
We come here often. They recently renovated their bathroom, with new floor, each of the two toilets, completed with shower. The staff for the boat club is helpful and courteous. Relaxing and hassle free.
I played well: with Alan (4-1), Pete (2-5) and Hope (4-1). I could have served up two bagels but I failed: subconscious unwilling, or a simple mistake or unable? I couldn’t say.
My serves look terrible, and my backhand needs to get ready earlier.
The five week long Minor League Pickleball starts tonight. This is the second season. I missed the first one due to travel to Antarctic last year.
There are five teams, all with whimsical names: Rally Cats (my team), Dinkers Anonymous, Dinkers & Drivers, Golden Gherkins 2.0 and Hell’s Kitchen.
Three teams have 14 players (we do) two have 15, dividing into two brackets: A (8 players play two matches each week) and B (6/7 players play two matches each time). B bracket is less skilled that includes me. Each team gets a bye week; ours comes next Tuesday, Feb 18. When the score is ties at 4:4 or 3:3, dream breaker is played.
Each team have a specific color of t shirt, substitutes wear white. All our matches used subs. I missed one; three male subs in the final.
The rally scoring is used, which means every point is scored, either by the serving team or receiving team. Normal recreational play uses sideout scoring system, only the server or serving team scores point.
For example, if opponent serves and missed, we get a point, and get to serve next.
During this period, my game has improved – learned a few pointers:
The standings
| Teams | 2.11 | 2.18 | 2.25 | 3.04 | 3.11 | win | 3.18 | 3.25 | rank |
| Rally Cats A | L | – | w | w | L | 2 | 6:2 | 4:4 | 1st |
| – Bracket B ♦ | w | – | w | w | w | 4 | 6:0 | 5:1 | |
| Dinkers Anon A | w | w | w | L | – | 2 | L | 4:4 | 2nd |
| – Bracket B | L | w | L | w | – | 3 | w | 1:5 | |
| Dinkers & Drivers A | L | L | L | – | w | 1 | – | – | 5th |
| – Bracket B | w | L | L | – | L | 1 | – | – | |
| Gherkins 2.0 A | w | L | – | w | w | 3 | L | ? | 4th |
| – Bracket B | L | L | – | L | L | 0 | L | ? | |
| Hell’s Kitchen A | – | w | w | L | ? | 2 | w | ? | 3rd |
| – Bracket B | – | w | L | L | ? | 2 | L | ? |
The last two weeks March 18 and 25 are playoffs, score is independent: winner takes all.
I’m in bracket B, and our bracket has been doing great: won all our matches.
One observation: compare to tennis players, pickleball players are less athletic and rougher, in term of etiquette. For example, they’ve no qualm of exiting through another court while the ball is still in play in that court. I mean, you should wait, show some courtesy and respect!
The first week (today) I played two matches: one mixed doubles and one doubles. Both matches’ opponents were male.
The first match, OP chose to serve, I was receiving. It zoomed by me so fast, I didn’t see it.
Later in the game, Rich was serving even when I held up my paddle as I was rushing to my position. He served without hesitation, anyway. After the point was over, his captain who happened to there watching, said, “When they hold up paddle, you need to wait.”
Hmmmm… even you don’t know this rule, but should know common courtesy, don’t you? If the player isn’t in position, you wait.
The second match, down to the wire again.
When I was serving, Rich said he wasn’t looking. Hmmmm … I hope this isn’t a payback. But “I’m not even looking” is NOT a valid excuse. You play at server’s pace.
At 25-24, I said to my partner, “win by two points?”
“No, three points.” She said.
I turned to face the server and thinking better to confirm it, so I help up my hand. Just then Joe served to my partner. I stepped into the kitchen and blocked it casually.
My captain who just got there, said “that’s it.”
“No, I held up my hand.” I said.
“Yes, she did.” Joe said. I won’t know what would be the result if Joe didn’t speak up, back me up.
So two points it is.
And we come from behind to seal the victory.
Joe is less skilled than Rich but he has good control, able to consistently hit to my partner – they both are tier 4 players. Being by the kitchen line, there isn’t a room for me to cut in and hit back at a better angel or faster pace. Nevertheless, we cliched a win, which pleased me very much, given the unsportsmanship conduct.
I checked with coach Byron Freso, below is his reply ↓
The server is always in the driver’s seat. However, if the receiver is not ready, the server has to wait. In pickleball, they both have 10 seconds to serve or receive the ball.
There are three way the receiver can indicate they are not ready – paddle up, the other hand up, or back turned.
Aside from pickleball, today is the 14th of the lunar new year, the day before the 元宵節 / 元宵节 Lantern Festival when the moon is at fullest/the first full moon of the year, which also considered the Chinese Valentine’s Day.
It’s a busy day for me.
A beautiful full moon night 花好月圆夜
tennis pickleball swimming ♠️
福亲们 元宵节快乐哈
getting up
warm up
tennis
聚餐 pastrami sandwish
♠️ 桥牌
会
第一个星期的皮克球比赛 – 共五周
full moon
二局4-0, 我发球 … 失掉送
的机会
(是潜意识不想 还是简单失误? 鬼知道)2:1
还有鸡爪子 
练
♠️ 几手牌都不太好 小2 老3 的多多 
一手拿齐J 啥牌呀 
但机会难得 练技巧 
皮克 热闹. 打了两场 都赢了 – 搭档好
三进泳池 抬头看见圆圆的月亮 明天吃汤团 甜的咸的
但我现在想吃烤鸭 小笼包
…Gulf of America
以为川建国同志就是随口说说
真改呀？
上午看时 谷歌地图
已经改了. 苹果地图
还是墨西哥湾
现在已经改了 …
咱们学的那点地理可能不够用了. 看来又要进修了 continue ed [憨笑]
周二的流水账
元宵节快乐
It’s been a while that I record myself: not a good hiatus: my double hand backhand looks awful.
Self-humiliate … to get help or self-improve -:)
chicken feet
教练说过 脚不动就会是鸡爪子 …真的好难看 [Lol][吃瓜]
自我羞辱 求进步 [吃瓜]
Macro-structure: per AI, … in tennis is a long-term training plan that organizes tennis training into phases or blocks. This plan is made up of microcycles and is designed to help tennis players reach peak performance.
瑜伽
